Push-button snap-switch.



Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Mfi w it i 3 v a M 7 i f f. j 4 47/ f d j 7 6 I r J M w J w 1 h H. A. DOUGLAS.

PUSH BUTTON SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATIQN FILED APR. 4.191]. 1,285,072.

5 7 z 7 lfivv 5 M f I J 0 y, 7 v 0 f R En 0 2 u 4 H 4v 6 J B d I H. A. DOUGLAS.

PUSH BUTTON SNAP SWITCH.

APPLICATION man APRA. 1911.

PatentedNov. 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS, 6F BRON'SON, MICHIGAN;

PUSH-BUTTON SNAP-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 4, 1917. SerialNo. 159,733. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS, citizen of the United States, residing at Bronson, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inPush-Button Snap-Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to push button snap switches and has for its general object an improved and simplified construction of such a switch.

The push button snap switch of my invention, as it is preferably constructed, is inclusive of a contact carrier, a push button having an element that has connection with said contact carrier that causes relative rotation between said push button element and said contact carrier when the push button switch is snapped is operated;v complemental switching contacts carried by said contact carrier and push button element that is also a contact carrier, these contacts being engageable or separable upon relative rotation between said contact carriers, one of these contacts being longitudinally movable with respect to its carrier, spring means for engaging said contact with its complemental contact, when the switch is adjusted to close circuit and for restoring the push button to its outer position, and mechanism whereby the or quickly moved .to position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the first contact carrier is a shell which is mechanically connected with the contact or contacts it carries by means of a plug of insulating material that is secured to the shell. The aforesaid longitudinally movable contact is desirably directly carried by this plug, as is the spring means for engaging this contact with its complemental contact when the circuit is closed, and which spring means desirably also forces the longitudinally movable contact against the contact carrying push button element when the circuit is opened. This spring means also has the additional function of restoring the push button, preferably through the agency of the contact or contacts the spring means moves. Each circuit changing rotary movement of this push button element with reference to the shell is desirably accomplished in two steps of similar rotary direction, both occurring as a result of pushing the button in, the second step movement of the push button being its restoring movement that is accompanied by the snapping of the switch to a new position.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a view inlongitudinal section illustrating the parts in a normal position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the push button in a depressed position; Fig. 3 is a view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1'; F ig. 4 is a view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the push button contact carrying element swung nearly a quarter tur'n; Fig. 6 is a view on line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 illustrates thepush button contact element of Fig. 5 .with its quarter turn completed; Fig. 8 is a view on line 88 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a development of a cam groove that enters into the construction.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

One of the contact carriers is preferably composed of a metallic shell 1 and an insulating plug 2 that is secured to the shell. The switch shown being a double pole switch, the plug 2 carries two switching contacts 3. The other contact carrier is the rotatable and reciprocable base portion or element l of the push button that is provided with a reciprocable actuating element 5. The contact carrying element 4 carries a contact 6 which is complemental to each of the contacts 3 and common thereto, contact 6 being provided with circuit closing contact spring fingers 6 engageable with contacts 3 and slidable along the same, when the push button is positioned toclose circuit. Element 4 and the contact 6 carried thereby are turned ninety degrees either from an on or circuit closing position iii which contact 6 engages contacts3' (Figs. 1 and 3) to an off or circuit opening position in which contact 6 is swung clear of contacts 3 (Figs. 7 and 8), or vice versa.

The spring means that press the contacts 3 against their common complemental contact 6 are the coil springs 7 which also desirably function to restore the push button to its outer position when it is released, the inturned flange 8 upon the shell limiting the extent to which the spring means 7 may.

push the button outwardly. In restoring Patented N 0v. 19, 1918. g

spring 4, button element 5 from the push button ele- I position shown by dotted lines in F ig'. 6, andbrings the stem 4 bore 5' and in so doing the light sprin 4 -1S placed under compression (Fig. 5). Wien the push button element 5 is released the distends and separates the push ment 4 (Fig '7). whereupon the stem P is withdrawn from the bore 5 to occupy the the pins 9 .(which were held from finally reaching homeseats by thestem 4 in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6) finally reach home seats. The switch is now ad usted, to permitit to go through another circuit changing cycle of operations, when the circuit is again to be changed or opened 1 and closed as the case may be, since thestem 4t? overlies another pair of shoulders or corners 5 as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 6. While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of changes may readily push button element and said contact car-' rier when the push button is operated; complemental switching contacts carried by said contact carrier and push button element that is also a contact carrier, these contacts being engageable or separable upon'relative rotation between said contact carriers, one of these contacts being longitudinally movable with respect to its carrier, said push button having an actuating element that is reciprocable with respect to said first push button element; and spring means for pushing the first element outwardly and cooperating with said cam groove to cause the circuit changing rotation of said first element.

2. A push, button snap switch including a contact carrier; a push button having an element that has zigzag cam groove and pin interconnection with said contact carrier,

that causes relative rotation between said push button element and said contact carrier when the push button is operated; complemental switching contacts carried by said push button having an actuating element that is reciprocab-le with respect to said first push button element; and spring means for contact carrier and construction-shown as I I be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but

switch including cam groove and pin 1,285,072 I a LE pushing the first element outwardly and cooperating with said camgroove tocause the circuit changing rotation of said first element. 7 tr- I 3. A push button snap'switch including ,a contact carrier; a push-button 'having'an element that has zigzag ,cam groove and pin interconnection with said contact carrier that causes relative rotation between said pus button element and saidtontact carrier'when the push button is operated; complemental switching contacts carried by saidpush button element that is also a contact "carrier," these contacts bemg engageable or jseparable upon relative rotation between said contact carriers, one of these contacts beinglongitudinally movable with respect to its carrier, said push button having an actuating. element that is reciprocable with respect to said first push button element; spring means for pushmg the first element outwardly and cooperating with sald cam groove to causethe circuit chang ing rotation of said first element; and means for relatively positioning said push 'button elements to permit the first push button element to move outwardly and turn with respect tothe second push button element at the conclusion of theinward movement of the first push button element. r

4. A push button snap switch including a contact carrier; a push button having an element that has zigzag cam groove and pin interconnection with said contact carrier that causes relative rotation between said push button element and said contact carrier when the push button is operated; complemental switching contacts carried by Said contact carrier and push button element that also a contact carrier, these contacts being engageable or separable upon relative rotation between said contact carriers, said push button having an actuating element that is reciprocable with respect to said first push button element; spring means for pushing the first element outwardly and coiipcrating with said cam groove to cause the circuit changing rotation of said first element; and means for relatively positioning said push button elementsto permit the first push button element to move outwardly and turn with respect to the second pushbutton element at the conclusion of the inward movement of the first push button element.

5. A push button snap switch including a contact carrier; 2. push button having an reciproceble with respect rotation between snid contact csrriern one of these contacts being; longituuinolly movable with respect to its carrier, suicl push button having em. actuating element that is reciprocuble with respect to suidfirst ush button element; spring menus for pus ing the first element outwardly and cooperating with said coin groove to cause the circuit changing rotation of said first element; and means for relatively positioning said push button elements to permit the first push button element to move outwardly With respect to the seconcl push button element at the conclusion of the invvurrl movement of the first push button element. 1

6. A push button snap svvitch including o contact carrier; u push button having on element that has zigzug cum groove encl pin interconnection With said contact carrier that causes relative rotation between said push button element and ssid contact carrier when the push button is operated; coinplementel switching contacts curried by suhl contact carrier and push button element that is also a contact carrier, these contacts being engugeable or separable upon relative rotu-' tion between saitl contuct cerriers,-saicl push button having an actuating element that is to scicl first push button element; spring means for pushing the first element outwardly encl cooperating with said coin groove to cause the circuit changing rotation or? said first element; end

means ror relatively positioning said push LEBESQQWB button elements to permit the first push but ton element to move outwardly Witrespect to the second push button element at the con clusion of theinwurd movement 0% the first push button element.

7. A push button snap switch including switching contacts; at push button for controlling the relation of suitl contacts this push button having inner and outer portions, the outer portion being in pushing relation to the inner portion and the inner portion being movable outwardly and With respect to the outer ortion; and means for sheeting rapid circuit changing rotation of the inner portion of the push button when it moves outwardly,

8. A push button snap switch including hit switching contacts; a push button for concuit changing rotation or" the inner portion or? the push button when: it moves outnurtily.

ln Witness whereof, ll hereunto subscribe name this 3rd day of March, A... ll. i917.

n. EDQUGLAS.

portions of the push 

